Page:History of Gardner, Massachusetts (1860) - Glazier.djvu/138

134 the chair business in this town if written in detail, might be interesting, but as I have not the facts sufficient, I shall confine myself to some general statements:

For many years the only machinery used was a foot-lathe. When water-power was first applied to the turning-lathe, it was a matter of astonishment to many, to see with what rapidity the work was done. Next came the circular saw to prepare the timber for the lathe; and machine has followed machine to the present time, and a large part of the work is now done with them.

The annual amount of chair business may be set in round numbers at $550,000. Number of men employed, 450; number of chairs made, 620,000; amount paid for seating the same, $55,000; which last is done by women and children.

The largest establishment for chair-making in town, and probably the largest in the United States, is that of the Heywood Chair Manufacturing Company. Their factory is situated on the stream flowing from Crystal Lake, and near its outlet; for motive power they use both water and steam; they employ over 200 men, and manufacture 200,000 chairs annually, varying in prices from $6 to $120 per dozen, making an aggregate